VCBW Brings BC Brewmasters Together For Annual Event

By Jessie Foster

VANCOUVER – Vancouver Craft Beer Week (VCBW) kicked off brew season with their annual collaboration brew day at Backcountry Brewing in Squamish on April 6. Brewers from distilleries all over BC joined together to celebrate the seasonal collab and look ahead to VCBW’s annual celebration of craft beer, May 25 to June 3, 2018.

What to get excited for this year is the development of a recipe for their sea-to-sky collaboration “Double Dry Hopped Pilsner,” which mashes together Beere Brewing, Coast Mountain Brewing and of course Backcountry Brewing’s expertise.

Leah Heneghan is the founder and festival director for the event and loves the opportunity to create such an exciting few days and host a fun, collaborative celebration each year.

“I love this event because it’s the one day that the whole beer community can get together and hang out and have some fun and make some awesome beer,” says Heneghan.

When the festival started in 2010, there were around 100 people in attendance and approximately 20 breweries. Now, the festival is expecting about 15,000 people and 140 different breweries from across the province.

James Pierces has been a brewer at Backcountry Brewing since its opening on April 1, 2017. This is Pierces’ inaugural craft beer celebration, but loves the opportunity to “shoot the shit” and drink craft beer.

“Who doesn’t love to smash pints with other brewers and watch other people work,” says Pierces.

The 10-day festival incorporates something for everyone when it comes to ensuring beer is enjoyed responsibly. The festival promises a week and a half full of music, food, arts and craft beers throughout the city of Vancouver.

“It’s kind of an amazing community to be a part of because everybody really likes each other and everybody likes what they’re doing. It’s awesome,” says Heneghan.

Vancouver Craft Beer Week takes place at various locations May 25 to June 3.